3 new head coaches who could reach College Football Playoff in 2022
Brent Venables, Oklahoma
One college football head coaching hire that probably isn’t talked about enough is Brent Venables. Many people seem to think Oklahoma football is going to fall off with Riley leaving town but that’s not the case.
Venables was wanted as a head coach for years before he finally took the leap and he was right to wait because he got one of the jobs he wanted coaching the Sooners.
Riley is an offensive guru and Oklahoma is going to miss him. But Venables is a great defensive coach and deserves a lot of credit for Clemson’s national title run. He knows how to recruit and he’s going to make OU better on defense in 2022.
The offense also won’t be as bad as some think. Dillon Gabriel is a talented quarterback and spent last season at UCF with new OC Jeff Lebby, so there will be familiarity. The schedule also isn’t that difficult.
Baylor and Oklahoma State both have to come to Norman. The game against Texas is on a neutral field and while trips to TCU, Iowa State, and West Virginia won’t be easy, they aren’t as daunting as going to Stillwater or Baylor.
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The prediction of Oklahoma’s demise in the Big 12 is premature. The Sooners can win the conference in 2022 and if they do with just one loss, the playoff will be the reward.